Liveaboard: Catalina or San Clemente?

[Kryssa]

Husband and I are looking to book a Truth Aquatics trip for later this summer and it would seem they schedule their trips down to the Southern Islands for either Catalina or San Clemente. If you had to choose one of these islands to visit for 3-4 days, which would it be and why?

I have 25 dives and my husband has 35. We did a Truth Aquatics trip to the Northern Islands last year and loved it. We're doing our AOW at the end of this month.

Thanks

 

[fnfalman]

If I were to have my druthers, I'd take San Clemente over Catalina. However, Catalina is a more probable destination because the US Navy tends to close San Clemente down for naval exercises and such. Most of the times they'd publish schedules to the dive boats but sometimes they'd just up and close for some previously unforeseen activities. I've been on a trip where that happened and we had to backtracked to Catalina.

 

[drbill]

Since I live on Catalina and dive here frequently, my choice (if I had one) would be San Clemente which usually has even better visibility. The Truth Aquatics boats are awesome. I dive them when I get up to Santa Barbara (and will be sleeping on one tonight!).

 

[Captain12Pk]

Clemente... any day

 

[Rainer]

San Clemente is the best SoCal diving I've done. I can't wait to get back.

 

[Kevrumbo]

San Clemente always (US Navy owns it though, and sometimes they periodically close it off for recreational access. See: http://www.scisland.org/schedules/schedules.php):

The first dive was on a pinnacle they called "Window Pane" on the Northeast face of the southern portion of the island. It is a peak of coral rock at about 40 ft depth. We descended the anchor line and started our paths along the ridgeline. The walls went down to about 120 feet. Some divers went deep. My buddy and I made it to about 80, but reconsidered because of the cold. Topside was about 68 degrees. The thermocline was at about 60 feet with temps into the 50's - frikken cold to me in my 5 mil! There's a good lesson for the log - AT LEAST a 7 mil suit.
San Clemente Island - Great Escape | Scuba Diving Magazine

 

[rickyd]

My first dives, 5 days after I got certified, was to San Clemente on a 4 day trip on the Truth/Vision. This was in August, 9 years ago. We had some of the best viz I've ever seen in SoCal. I played with Bat rays; during our SI's, we got buzzed by a few fighter jocks out of Miramar, doing low altitude runs that I swear came close enough to to feel the jet exhaust. I got hooked, and have been even since. If you chose to try Clemente, hope it's open for you; as stated a few time, the Navy can close it with little notice ( sometimes only part of the island is closed ). Check the schedule at SCI Hazardous Operations Area Schedule

Chances are you'll most likely hit Catalina on the way back to Santa Barbara. Yes, DrBill, I do love Catalina also.

Have fun,

 

[Kryssa]

Thanks all ... the choice is now obvious. I'm hoping it's open when we're scheduled to go at the end of September

 

[Dan Chua]

If you go on a Southern Islands trip with Truth Aquatics, especially the four day ones, you will typically go to both islands, plus a third northern island on the last day. Of course this is up to the chartermaster and group.

Dan